City Council Meeting Date: June 2, 2026
To: Mayor and Members of Council
City Administrator
From: David E. Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Consider Approval of Temporary Construction Easement with JB Dudley for Mill Towns State Trail by Waterford Bridge.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council Approves a Temporary Construction Easement with JB Dudley for Mill Towns State Trail by Waterford Bridge.
Summary Report:
The MnDNR and Dakota County Parks have an agreement with land owner JB Dudley to purchase a portion of the land on the south side of the Waterford Bridge for a trail head for Mill Towns State Trail. This acquisition has been on-going with Dakota County and MnDNR over the last 18 months. This is great news for the Mill Towns State Trail, as this trail head will allow access onto the Mill Towns State Trail, but also water access to the Cannon River.
The County/MnDNR will not close on the property for the trail head for 6 (six) weeks. The City is currently building the trail approach on the south side of the Waterford Bridge with the City/MnDNR project. This temporary construction easement is for 60 days and will allow the City project to tie in the slopes of the trail onto JB Dudley property. It was originally thought that the County/MnDNR would have already closed on the property by the time the trail construction reached the Waterford Bridge.
The property owner has approved the temporary easement. There is no cost to the City for this.
City Plans & Policies Relevance:
NA
Alternative Options:
NA - This will allow the trail slope grading with the Mill Towns State Trail Project at the Waterford Bridge tie in.
Financial Impacts:
None
Tentative Timelines:
60-day Temporary Easement for Construction.